I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw sexy Scott Gurney as the gay-for-pay porn star Johnny Rebel in "The Fluffer." Talk about perfection! But since that sexually charged leading role back in late 2001, Gurney has all but disappeared from the landscape, with just one acting credit to his name (as a college recruiter on "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch"!) Oh, well. I'll always have the magazine covers to remember him by ...

By the time you read this Michael and I will be all settled in at our hotel near the Spanish Steps in Rome. It's a much-needed romantic getaway -- and our first "real" vacation in quite some time. You see, Michael doesn't count the trips out West that include stops to see my family. He loves my family, but a vacation to him means going away where we know no one, hence our trip to the Eternal City, a place neither of us has been before.

As I was preparing for the trip I ended up digging through piles and piles of old magazines that I had kept for one reason or another. As I flipped through the pages, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite photos before (finally) tossing them into the garbage. I've put together a few posts to last the week so my blog will not be lifeless while I'm away. Enjoy and I will return to action soon ...

Saturday, April 28, 2007

In what must have felt like an eternity, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, once considered a No. 1 draft pick, waited on the sidelines for hours until being selected 22nd overall by the Cleveland Browns during first round of the NFL Draft Saturday, April 28, 2007, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Is it me, or did the A&F model in the making look like he started breaking out right before our eyes?!) Although it may have been a minor blow to his ego, Quinn had wanted to play for Cleveland (his hometown), so I'm sure he's thrilled with the way things turned out. Based on how he looked at the Combine, though, it's hard to imagine anyone passing on this bod.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Wide receiver Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech University, quarterback Brady Quinn of Notre Dame University, running back Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma University, quarterback JaMarcus Russell of Louisiana State University and defensive end Gaines Adams of Clemson University pose on the Radio City Music Hall Marquee during the NFL Draft photo call held at Radio City Music Hall on April 26, 2007 in New York City. (NFL.com)

Even I'm surprised I'm not in Midtown lurking around trying to catch a glimpse of my boy ... and that JaMarcus guy looks awfully good too ...

Fishy Spice: Wait. Scary Spice is a lesbian? But I thought Eddie Murphy only had sex with tranny hookers. (Source)

Old Mike, New Christine: It's not every day that you read a column in the sports section and the guy who's been writing it for 20some years announces he's undergoing a sex change. But that's just what Mike Penner did this week. Unlike Steve Stanton, the former city manager in Largo, Florida, though, Mike's alter ego, Christine Daniels, is still gainfully employed. (LAT)

Actor Is Toast: I wonder if baked beans were involved when Hugh Grant was arrested with hooker DivineBrown, too. (AP)

Little by Little: New Hampshire lawmakers voted Thursday to authorize civil unions and sent the measure to Gov. John Lynch, who announced last week that he would sign it. It's a nice step in the right direction, although I was recently reading about the (was it) 1,000 things that marriage entitles you to that civil unions do not. Still separate. Still unequal, folks. (AP)

Students' Privacy: Kudos to the federal judge who on Thursday issued an order to lawyers battling to prevent a Gay-Straight Organization from forming at an Okeechobee, Florida, from questioning student witnesses about their sexuality. (Source)

Shifting Geres: I don't know if Richard Gere should be arrested for his public display of affection with Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty -- a major no-no in India. But based on the footage I've seen, Shetty might want to consider sexual assault charges against this maniac. (AP)

Mask: If Laura Dern wants to believe the reason she couldn't get a job for a year after after appearing on "Ellen" was because she played a lesbian then let her think that. I'm sure that's why Billy Bob Thornton ran off with Angelina Jolie without even notifying her too. (Source)

Hunky Chris Evans is featured in the new issue of INTERVIEW magazine. Unfortunately, he seems to really be following that advice he got about not taking his shirt off to avoid being "pigeonholed as a beefcake." Such a shame given the magazine Andy built's track record with sexy photos shoots, like this one of Notre Dame hunk Brady Quinn you may recall and so many others...

Wait'll you hear Donald Trump's take on Rosie O'Donnell's exit from "The View":

"Look, Rosie is very -- in my opinion, she's ill, you know, she's got some mental -- serious mental problems. And you know, more importantly, she's very self-destructive, which is a part of that mental problem." (Read)

My 'View': Everyone's got a theory about Rosie O'Donnell's announcement that she's leaving "The View." But it's pretty obvious to me that Rosie wanted out and the "contract negotiations didn't work out" high road is what she agreed to say with Barbara Walters. ABC would have done anything to keep this ratings goldmine on the set. (AP)

Two Becomes One: Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown sure could use a visit from Self-Respect Spice. (AP)

Thanks for the Vote: MySpace and reality TV producer Mark Burnett are teaming to launch the search for an independent presidential candidate. (AP)

Is There No End to This? President Bush's "brain" Karl Rove is finally under investigation for illegal political activity. Too bad the man leading the inquiry is a Bush appointee -- Special Counsel Scott Bloch -- who is already under investigation for allegations of homophobia, illegal gag orders, cronyism, and retaliation. (Source)

As If: People magazine says Drew Barrymore is the No. 1 Most Beautiful Person. Are crooked mouths and speech impediments "hot" in Hollywood these days? (People)

Anything but Ratings: In the wake of the Voicemailgate scandal, NBC denied Alec Baldwin's request to get out of his contract for "30 Rock" so he could devote all of his time to the cause of "parental alienation." Given the sitcom's so-called ratings, however, I have a feeling he'll have plenty of time for all sorts of causes in the near future. (AP)

HotJobs: If I were Steve Stanton, I'd head to West Palm Beach faster than you can see Adam's apple reduction. (Source)

DVR Worthy: This Friday on 20/20, Barbara Walters sits down with children who are struggling with gender identity and their families. (Advocate)

Linger: Singer Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries says that a "reunion is possible." Did they break up? (AP)

Cruel and Unusual: A two-disc DVD of Ben Stiller's "Night at the Museum"? Wouldn't sitting through one be punishment enough? (BC)

The Double Standard: A New York radio station that ignored criticism after two of its morning show stars called a musician a "fag" on air has suspended the shock jocks following prank phone call to a local Chinese restaurant that was filled with ethnic slurs. In the call, a woman employee at the Chinese restaurant was told by the caller that he would like to "come to your restaurant" to see her naked, especially the body part he referred to as "hot, Asian, spicy." He then attempt to order "flied lice," and uses a series of racial slurs and four-lettered words. I guess they couldn't just fire JV and Elvis for not being the least bit funny as that would mean all morning DJs would be out of work. (Source)

Welcome to the Dollhouse: How sad when one repressed group decides it's OK to then try to hold another one down. (Source)

Shattered Faith: Messy George Michael must appear in court on drug charges a day before a sellout concert at London's new Wembley Stadium, a district judge ruled Tuesday. The 43-year-old singer, whose real name is George Panayiotou, was arrested in October. He faces charges of driving under the influence of drugs, an activity he seems to fancy doing on a weekly basis. (AP)

All Out of Pride: Faced with a mountain of debt Seattle's Out and Proud, the volunteer group that puts on the city's annual gay pride parade and festival, decided Tuesday to disband and file for bankruptcy. (Source)

Tears of a Clown: What's up with that "Girls Gone Wild" guy crying like a baby in court yesterday? I guess he knows what it feels like now to be one of those teenage girls who sobers up after she's already signed a release form. (AP)